Wayne Dolcefino leaves Channel 13

CONTACT FILED: HOUSTON, TEXAS-CITY COUNCIL 9/17/02--Houston City Council member Annise Parker prepares to embrace Wayne Dolcefino during Tuesday's council session. Parker was representing City Council in the "Kiss a Pig" fund-raising campaign. Dolcefino, wearing a pig nose and ears costume, was substituting for "Wilbur" held by City of Houston employee, Roger Smith (left). (on the staff of the Houston's Public Information Officer Cindy Sax). HOUCHRON CAPTION (09/18/2002): Councilwoman Annise Parker chose to kiss KTRK-TV Channel 13 reporter Wayne Dolcefino rather than Wilbur the pot-bellied pig Tuesday as part of the "Kiss a Pig" charity fund-raiser. The council member with the lowest contributions, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, was supposed to have puckered up to the pig but was a late arrival to the ceremony. City Council raised more than $16,000, which will benefit hundreds of local charities.

CONTACT FILED: HOUSTON, TEXAS-CITY COUNCIL 9/17/02--Houston City Council member Annise Parker prepares to embrace Wayne Dolcefino during Tuesday's council session. Parker was representing City Council in the

Local reporter Wayne Dolcefino is "abducted" during a SWAT demonstration at the Second Annual True Blue Gala sponsored by the Houston Police Foundation at the home of Paige and Tilman Fertitta Saturday Oct. 17,2009. (Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle)

Local reporter Wayne Dolcefino is "abducted" during a SWAT demonstration at the Second Annual True Blue Gala sponsored by the Houston Police Foundation at the home of Paige and Tilman Fertitta Saturday Oct.

Wayne Dolcefino, the award-winning reporter for KTRK-TV whose reports over two decades resulted in corruption charges and convictions against a number of area officials, has left the station, Channel 13 said Wednesday.

Dolcefino's departure from the ABC-owned station ends a 26-year career as arguably the most controversial and most accomplished investigative reporter in the recent annals of Houston television.

"I have fought hard to honor the long tradition of Eyewitness News," Dolcefino said in a statement issued by the station.

"I thank the people at Channel 13 who have helped me expose those who betray the public trust and who waste the public's money. After 26 years you are like family. Telling the truth can sometimes be controversial."

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Henry Florsheim, Channel 13's president and general manager, said in a statement, "We were happy to support Wayne's unique investigative skills and talents, and we recognize the important role they played in our station's success."

With his guttural tagline of "Wayne Dolcefino, 13 Undercover," Dolcefino had won 25 Emmy awards, three medals from the Investigative Reporters and Editors association, a 2012 Edward R. Murrow Award and five awards from the Texas Headliners Foundation since joining Channel 13 in 1985.

He had not appeared on the station during the November sweeps period, during which stations slot their most sensational stories in search of higher Nielsen ratings to produce higher advertising rates, and rumors of his departure had circulated for several weeks.